The British GENES blog (GEnealogy News and EventS): Top stories concerning British Isles ancestral research from Irish born Scottish based professional family historian, author and tutor Chris Paton. Feel free to quote from this blog, but please credit British GENES if you do so. Should you wish to get in touch, contact me at christopherpaton @ tiscali.co.uk. Happy hunting!

Pages

Thursday, 17 October 2013

English Heritage Angel Awards - latest

From English Heritage:

ENGLISH HERITAGE ANGEL AWARDS FINALISTS TO BE HONOURED BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

Paul Martin will be taking to the stage of the Palace Theatre in London’s West End at 11.30am next Monday to introduce the communities, church groups, private individuals and trusts behind some of the nation’s best heritage rescues, English Heritage announced today (Thursday 17th October).

There will be 17 finalists at the English Heritage Angel Awards and Paul Martin will be introducing celebrities including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bettany Hughes, George Clarke and the Bishop of London to announce the five winners. Paul will then interview the winners in front of an audience of heritage experts and enthusiasts.

A film telling the story of each of the rescue projects will be shown at the event. The films are available on the English Heritage YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/16fCCPW

Founded by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2011, the Angel Awards celebrate the efforts of groups and individuals from all over the country who put hours of hard work perseverance and imagination into saving derelict and severely damaged historic landmarks from being lost forever.

The finalists include a decaying Victorian glasshouse, a London pub with a ballroom bought by the community, a Northumbrian battlefield, a County Durham lead mine and a Somerset silk mill, a castle used for target practice in the Second World War, an overgrown cemetery, a mausoleum to a man buried in his chair, and a church neglected for 100 years.

All have been filmed by award-winning filmmakers D R Hood and Hannah Robinson (www.likelystory.co.uk). The films are already attracting large audiences on the English Heritage Youtube channel.

Paul Martin said: "Our heritage isn't just about the past, it's about the present; and if we don't act now, some of our buildings and monuments will be lost forever. Not only are they a unique document of social history, they also provide a window into the past, giving us a sense of connection with traditional heritage craft skills. We can make it happen, we can save these iconic landmarks so the next generation can embrace them."

Filmmaker D R Hood who has worked with top stars, said: “Filming the people short-listed for the Heritage Angels was a joy. They are all so passionate about the buildings and places they have saved and want others to enjoy them as they do. I hope our films help spread their infectious enthusiasm for the rich and varied heritage all around us - and their incredible persistence in getting things done.”

Follow @EnglishHeritage on Twitter for the latest #AngelAwards updates.